Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-21
SHOT HIS WIFE AND HIMSELF.
The Rash Crime OF n Demcnted
Actor.

A Philadelphia special says: james
Rivers, well-known actor, stage mana
ger, and dramatist. of this city, who
has an extensive acquaintance among
the theatrical profession throughout
the country, shot his wife in the right
hip this afternoon, and then put bal
let into bis own body, inficting injuries
which are supposed to be fatal. Rivers,
whose stage name is James Reynolds, Is
about forty five years old. He isa Phila-
delphian by birth, and was considered
one of the bandsomest men on the
stage. His wife. Olive Rivers, is about
ten years his junior, and the couple have
two bright children. The eldest, Fan
nie. is seventeen years old, and her
brother, Frank, is fourteen.
Riyers's family lived in a boarding
house on Thirteenth street above
Girard avenue. His last engagement
was with the Ranch 10" combination,
in which he managed the stage and "a
sumed a minor character. One month
ago the company disbanded. and Rivers
returned to bis wife and children in this
city. Since then he has been unable to
secure IN engagement, and his scanty
stock of funds was almost exhausted.
On Friday last he engaged two rooms
the second story back and front, in Miss
Hoff's boarding house, above U. G. War
ners grocery store, on the southeast
corner of Eleventh and Mount Vernon
streets. He was actively engaged in
writing a new play, and devoted nearly
all bis time to the manpscript, hoping
to complete it in time TO have it pro-
6uced next season. This mental strain,
in addition to his financial troubles. is
believed to have affected his brain, and
his friends have noticed that he acted
strangely for some time. A week ago
he bought his boy Frank toy gunand
handed it to HIM with the remark: I'D
kill myself and your mother. too, If
that would do it,.
This afternoon about o'clock Rivers
was sitting ut table in the back room
reading some manuscript. His wife
was seated few feet away by the win
dow sewing. The two children were in
the front room. Suddenly Rivers
sprang from his chair, threw the manu-
script on the floor, and drew from his
pocket a new six-barrelled 32calibre
revolver, which he had evidently
bought for the purpose. His vile
screamed and rdn toward the door,
and he fired several shots after her
Only che bullet took effect, and that
struck her in the left hip, inflicting a
painful flesh wound. She managed to
drag herself from the room, and Rivers
put the pistol to his head and pulled
the trigger. sending shot crashing
through his cheek, Just below the base
of the brain. Not content with this,
he pointed the weapon to his left breast,
with the intention of shooting himself
through the heart. His aim was bad,
however, and the bullet sank into his
breast an inch below the heart
When the officers arrived they found
Mrs. Rivers lying grooming upon bed
in the front room, while her husband
lay unconscious on the floor of the back
room. The floor was covered with
blood, which was trickling from his
breast, and he still held the revolver in
his right hand. DR.. Hszael, the dis
trict surgeon, was called in and said that
Kiyers's wounds were undoubtedly
fatal. An ambulance was called and
the unconscious man was taken to the
Pennsylvania Hospital. AS he was
being placed in the ambulance Rivers
recovered consciousness, and, opening
bis ewes. said "Well, I guess I've
made a success of it, haven't I?' Mrs.
Rivcrs's wound was dressed by DIR.
Hazael. She refused to see any Of her
friends this evening, and is said to be
half frantic with grief The physl-
clans at the Pennsylvania Hospital said
at late hour tonight that Rivers
could not possibly survive, and that it
was extremely doubtful if he lived un-
I'll morning.